ISSN:0008-4166    

DOI:10.1139/m56-019

出版商:NRC Research Press    

年代:1956

数据来源: NRC

摘要:

The main advances in medical bacteriology during the past forty years are reviewed under six headings. Some new species have been discovered, but much more has been done in subdividing existing species with benefit to therapeutics and epidemiology. The chief advances in technique have been the introduction of electron microscopy and of many highly selective culture media. The study of bacterial metabolism has grown into a new branch of the science, and has provided a rational approach to new forms of chemotherapy. There has been little advance in the understanding of immunity, but methods of immunization have been greatly improved and extended. Finally, the discovery of the therapeutic action first of the sulphonamides and then of the antibiotics has not only revolutionzed therapeutics but given a new direction to laboratory work, and increased both its volume and its complexity.

ISSN:0008-4166    

DOI:10.1139/m56-020

出版商:NRC Research Press    

年代:1956

数据来源: NRC

摘要:

There are four types of response to an antigen: the production of classical antibody; the induction of hay fever type of hypersensitivity; the induction of tuberculin type of hypersensitivity; and the induction of specific immunological tolerance. Since the formation of antibody of some kind appears to be associated with the first three types of response, and the inhibition of antibody formation with immunological tolerance, any hypothesis of antibody formation must be consistent with what is known about all four responses. A reasonable consistency may be achieved by postulating the existence in the cell of endogenously produced 'genocopies' of certain proteins, which act as templates and determine the configuration of the proteins as they are synthesized; when a genocopy is modified by contact with antigen, protein will be synthesized with the specific complementary pattern of an antibody. The interference with this synthesis during embryonic life by entry into the cell of macromolecules objectionable to it, results in intracellular antibody and self-replicating mechanism for its further production—a system that can deal with all such macromolecules at the intracellular level; this corresponds to specific immune tolerance. When antigenic material enters body cells after birth, the same response occurs but there is in addition a transfer of the self-replicating mechanisms to cells of the lymphoid system with a consequent output of extracellular antibody—the classical antibody response. The hypersensitivity responses are intermediate in kind, and differ according to the transferability of the self-replicating mechanism, the amount of antibody released into the body fluids, and the readiness with which the antibody becomes attached to the tissue cells.

ISSN:0008-4166    

DOI:10.1139/m56-021

出版商:NRC Research Press    

年代:1956

数据来源: NRC

摘要:

This is a brief history of the bacteriology of bacillary dysentery from the time of its differentiation from the amoebic disease up to the present time. It is meant to be a story of events rather than a critical essay. A certain amount of background has been introduced to indicate the problems of identification and classification of the various bacterial types of the disease. Inevitably more space has been given to the mannite-fermenting organisms since the problem of their antigenic structure and interrelationship took so many years to solve. The events leading up to the present serological classification of the dysentery bacilli are set out and certain other problems e.g., those related to the carriage ofShigellaantigens by other members of the Enterobacteriaceae are discussed.

ISSN:0008-4166    

DOI:10.1139/m56-022

出版商:NRC Research Press    

年代:1956

数据来源: NRC

摘要:

This paper cites the most significant findings in the development of present day knowledge of the meningococcus (Neisseria meningitidis). It is pointed out that advances have occurred stepwise, each step involving approximately a decade. These decades are discussed in turn: the period of classification, the development of serum therapy, epidemiology and biology, chemotherapy and resistance, and finally transduction and genetic recombination. Future trends in research on the meningococcus are pointed out.

ISSN:0008-4166    

DOI:10.1139/m56-023

出版商:NRC Research Press    

年代:1956

数据来源: NRC

摘要:

The development of researches intoStaphylococcus pyogenesis viewed in historical perspective at decade intervals over the period 1885–1955. Beginning when Lister's antiseptic spray ritual was about to be abandoned, the sequence of discoveries and attitudes is traced full cycle to the impending disenchantment with bacteriostatic agents. The early recognition of staphylococcal toxins was submerged by Metchnikoff's theories on phagocytosis, and Wright's on opsonins. The Bundaberg disaster drew attention again to the exotoxins; but almost simultaneously, Fleming's earlier work on the damaging effects of chemical antiseptics upon leucocytes culminated fortuitously in his discovery of penicillin. Before the antigenic properties of staphylococcus toxins could be exploited in a thorough clinical trial of toxoid and antitoxin, the sulphonamide and antibiotic era was upon us. Indiscriminate use of these agents inevitably provoked resistance to them by this versatile and ubiquitous pathogen, and led to the present mounting alarm at the intractability and prevalence of staphylococcal infections.

ISSN:0008-4166    

DOI:10.1139/m56-024

出版商:NRC Research Press    

年代:1956

数据来源: NRC

摘要:

In the forthcoming edition of Bergey's Manual, the classification used has been rearranged on the assumption that the polar-flagellate, photoautotrophic bacteria existent today are the living organisms that are most nearly like primordial types of bacteria. The primordial bacteria—like living things out of which other living things (animal and plant) have developed—must have been preceded by other living things of a size comparable to living viruses. However, unlike filterable viruses, which represent a comparatively recent evolutionary development, primordial living things must have existed on simple, presumably inorganic foods and must have been very different physiologically from viruses. The new classification has been greatly developed by the group of specialists that have helped in the preparation of the new Manual. The (a) blue-green algae, (b) bacteria, (c) rickettsias and viruses are arranged in the improved classification as three classes in Division I,ProtophytaSachs of the Plant Kingdom. The number of orders in Class II,Schizomyceteshas been increased from 5 to 10 by a subdivision of previously recognized orders and by the recognition of a recently proposed new Order X,MycoplasmatalesFreundt for the pleuropneumonia-like organisms. The classification of the rickettsias and viruses will be discussed in a separate paper.

ISSN:0008-4166    

DOI:10.1139/m56-025

出版商:NRC Research Press    

年代:1956

数据来源: NRC

摘要:

Bacterial classifications based on morphology soon led to chaos, and a semblance of order was restored by using physiological characters. With the accumulation of knowledge chaos is raising its head again. Good classification depends on accurate characterization; standardized methods can help to make descriptions comparable and of more uniform value. Many descriptions need amplification and this could be provided by the expert sub-committees of the International Committee on Bacteriological Nomenclature. Classification must precede the naming of the bacteria, and much remains to be done in the realm of nomenclature. The year 1753 was fixed as the starting date; thus many names without adequate descriptions are in use today. It appears thatSerratia marcescenswas originally applied to a yeast and is thus not available as the name of a bacterium.Steps that might be taken to reduce nomenclatural chaos include the conservation of certain specific epithets and the selection of type strains; withholding recognition of species for which a type culture is not available; the registration of new names; and publication of newly described species in a limited number of recognized and official journals.

ISSN:0008-4166    

DOI:10.1139/m56-026

出版商:NRC Research Press    

年代:1956

数据来源: NRC

摘要:

The antigenic relationships between the different serotypes ofListeria monocytogenesandStaphylococcus aureuswere investigated by means of agglutination, agglutinin-absorption, precipitation, and complement fixation tests. Reciprocal cross-reactions were demonstrated with serotypes 1, 2, and 3 ofL.monocytogenesand manyS.aureusstrains, but not with serotypes 4aand 4b, using O suspensions ofL.monocytogenesand autoclaved suspensions ofS.aureus. Soluble heat-stable polysaccharide extracts, on the contrary, were quite specific in precipitin tests. Antisera againstL.monocytogenestype 3 cross-precipitated unilaterally extracts of mostS.aureusstrains. In the absence of clear-cut serological species specificity in these two microorganisms, in their reactions with rabbit antisera, and with human sera from suspected cases of listeriosis, there is need for caution in the interpretation of positive serological tests as an aid to diagnosis.

ISSN:0008-4166    

DOI:10.1139/m56-027

出版商:NRC Research Press    

年代:1956

数据来源: NRC

摘要:

CrudeSalmonellaantigens obtained from heated cultures are readily adsorbed on human red blood cells; the latter are specifically agglutinated by homologous bacterial antibodies, ThisSalmonellahemagglutination test is shown to be a sensitive tool for the detection of antibodies developed during salmonellosis and is distinctly superior to the conventional bacterial agglutination test. Patients withSalmonellainfection may develop homologous hemagglutinins in high titer and a variety of heterologous enteric antibodies in low titer. These antibodies can be differentiated by absorption with modified red blood cells. Three different purifiedEscherichia colilipopolysaccharides as well as the corresponding crude antigens can be simultaneously adsorbed on red blood cells. A suspension of red blood cells modified with severalSalmonellaandShigellaantigens is shown to be suitable as a polyvalent antigen for the detection of enterobacterial antibodies. The possible clinical usefulness of the monovalent and polyvalent enterobacterial hemagglutination tests is discussed.

ISSN:0008-4166    

DOI:10.1139/m56-028

出版商:NRC Research Press    

年代:1956

数据来源: NRC